Emergency response to extreme weather events on the agenda

June 3, 2014, midnight

COOMA residents were given the opportunity to shape future responses to extreme weather events, when the South East Local Land Services (LLS) held a community workshop on Friday at the Cooma Ex-Services Club.

Brent Jacobs speaking from the Institute of Sustainable Futures University of Technology Sydney.

COOMA residents were given the opportunity to shape future responses to extreme weather events, when the South East Local Land Services (LLS) held a community workshop on Friday at the Cooma Ex-Services Club.

The LLS facilitated the forum to better understand how the community plan, prepare and respond to extreme events such as bushfire, drought, floods and damaging winds.

The workshop was delivered by Dr Brent Jacobs, from the Institute of Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology in Sydney. He was joined by about 20 community members at the forefront of extreme weather events which impact upon the Monaro.

Kristy Moyle, the Strategic Land Services Officer Climate Change Planning says the day provided locals with a chance to raise their concerns.

"The object of today is to work with members of the community to identify the ways we can better help them deal with extreme events," Ms Moyle said.

"One event which was identified in the Monaro's case was drought.

"There were lots of accomplished knowledge holders at the workshop, it was extremely productive."

The result of the workshop will inform the development of programs to support community and landscape resilience against extreme climatic events into the future.

LLS held a series of eight workshops across the state, taking in community feedback to help direct future policies to assist land owners.

"Every workshop gives us [LLS] new ideas into how the community can cope and how they need help," Ms Moyle said.

"Ultimately it is those in the community who have the knowledge."

Discussion focused on the impacts drought has throughout the Monaro, and the appropriate ways this can be addressed. Stakeholders from various community organisations were present to listen to Dr Jacobs discuss ways they can adapt and manage extreme events.

Dr Jacobs, a Research Director at UTS, brought with him an extensive background in agricultural science.

"The Monaro has different concerns to other areas we visit, so it was important they had the chance to help inform the LLS into their experiences with extreme events," Ms Moyle said.